Cak Imin on Amsal Sitepu: Valuing Creativity at Rp0 Buries the Creative Industry
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar, alias Cak Imin, views creativity valued at Rp0 or for free as capable of burying the creative industry.
In addition to delivering the statement as a response to the handling of the alleged corruption case involving budget inflation by videographer Amsal Christy Sitepu, Cak Imin also stated that ideas, concepts, voice-overs, and editing processes must be valued.
“The creative process is the lifeblood of the creative industry. It should be valued as expertise, not negated, let alone criminalised. When ideas and creativity are valued at Rp0, it is not just mistaken; it is dangerous,” said Cak Imin in a statement confirmed in Jakarta on Monday.
He emphasised that in the creative industry, the core value emerges from a long process. That process starts from research, idea exploration, production, to execution, which cannot be measured solely by conventional approaches.
Furthermore, he reminded law enforcement officials that if creative workers are criminalised due to that long process, it could have systemic impacts on the world of education as well as the regeneration of creative industry players.
“If creativity is considered worthless, universities could lose the spirit to teach innovation. Then, who will create? Who will continue this ecosystem?” he said.
In addition, he reminded that currently millions of Indonesians depend on the creative economy sector, from content creators, videographers, editors, to designers.
“Do not let misguided approaches make creators afraid to produce works. We need the courage to innovate, not fear due to misinterpretation,” he said.
He also reminded that the Prabowo Subianto administration is committed to strengthening the creative economy ecosystem as a new engine for innovation-based economic growth.
Moreover, the performance of the creative economy in one year of the Prabowo presidency alongside Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka is seen to show a consistent direction towards a sovereign, competitive, and innovation-based economy, thus he reminded law enforcement not to kill creativity.
“Do not kill creativity. Protect, facilitate, and value it. Because from there the future of the economy and community empowerment is built,” he said.
The case is estimated to cause a loss to the state of Rp202 million or Rp202,161,980.
The loss is based on the calculation of costs for making village profiles carried out by Amsal Sitepu for 20 villages. The calculation was done by expert analysis and auditors from the Karo Regency Inspectorate.
According to the Karo Regency Inspectorate, the price for concepts or ideas, clip-on/microphone, cutting, editing, dubbing should be valued at Rp0 or free.
On 30 March 2026, the Indonesian House of Representatives Commission III held a closed-door meeting with Amsal Sitepu, then called on the panel of judges to consider imposing an acquittal or light sentence.